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Biology: Case Study On The Effect of Temperature On Brine Shrimps
Biology: Case Study On The Effect of Temperature On Brine Shrimps
Biology
Case Study on the Effect of
Temperature on Brine Shrimps
Teachers Guide
[HIGHER]
Acknowledgement
Learning and Teaching Scotland gratefully acknowledges this contribution to the National
Qualifications support programme for Biology.
The publisher gratefully acknowledges permission to use the following sources: 24 hour photo
of brine shrimps cysts hatching from stuck on Artemia by C Drewes, C Drewes; illustration
Know your brine shrimp anatomy from
http://britishecologicalsociety.org/documents/education/brine_shrimp_ecology.pdf, page 8
Michael Dockery and Stephen Tomkins, British Ecological Society
Learning and Teaching Scotland 2011
This resource may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes by educational
establishments in Scotland provided that no profit accrues at any stage.
Contents
Introduction
TEMPERATURE
Introduction
Brine shrimp are small invertebrates that live in salt lakes and ponds. They
are arthropods, and have a diet of algae and bacteria. The most common
species are Artemia fransiscana , and these can be purchased easily in pet
shops, etc, but have also been made available through the Wellcome Trusts
Survival Rivals and SSERC CPD courses.
http://www.science3-18.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=5840:brilliant-brine-shrimpssserc&catid=438:scn-4-01a-understanding-dependence-andsurvival&Itemid=2209
In preparing for the following activities, classes will need a supply of the egg
cysts, sea salt, a tank or empty plastic bottles, sand and shells, plant fertiliser
(for example Baby Bio), algae and dechlorinated water.
Ideally, the algae should be set up first and allowed to grow on a sunny
windowsill or under light. Egg cysts take up to 48 hours to hatch, but require
a source of food (the algae) after this time. On hatching, the larvae can be
transferred to a tank or plastic bottles. These should be set up with 3% salt
and dechlorinated water, with a sand and crushed shell base 3 cm deep and
kept at temperatures of between 22 and 30C. At 28C, larvae will be sexually
mature in 2 weeks. The sex of the brine shrimp may be determined after
approximately 3 weeks.
The brine shrimp should be fed every day with the algae (please see SSERC
care instructions at http://www.science3-18.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=5840%3Abrilliant-brine-shrimpssserc&catid=438%3Ascn-4-01a-understanding-dependence-andsurvival&Itemid=2209&showall=1).
Some adult brine shrimp and algae die and decompose. Other algae will
take up these nutrients and produce oxygen. The living brine shrimp will feed
on the algae and release carbon dioxide, which the algae need to
photosynthesise. Gently rotate the bottles or stir the tank once a week to
ensure the nutrients can be recycled in this way.
TEMPERATURE
The tank or bottles should be cleaned after a few months (please see SSERC
care instructions at http://www.science3-18.org/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=5840%3Abrilliant-brine-shrimpssserc&catid=438%3Ascn-4-01a-understanding-dependence-andsurvival&Itemid=2209&showall=1).
During long holiday periods, or when a class is finished with a set of the
shrimp, the water can be left to evaporate. To restart the population, add
water again and the eggs will hatch once more.
Sample results are provided to allow student data to be checked.
TEMPERATURE
lens, seekers, etc. The paper can then be added to the beakers egg side down
and the paper removed after a few minutes with tweezers.
TEMPERATURE
Larvae can be counted after 2448 hours. After this time, larvae can be
transferred to tanks or bottles.
The experiment should be repeated to improve the reliability of results. Class
data can be pooled and collated to show average results. This information
should be displayed graphically in a suitable format.
Identifying male and female brine shrimp
If the Artemia are allowed to develop in tanks/bottles, then their sex can be
identified after 23 weeks.
Counting larvae
When carrying out the experiment, students will need to check and count the
number of larvae that hatch. To do this, cut the end off a large dropper (cut
off the top 1 cm 3 ) and use this to remove samples of the shrimp into small
beakers. Hand lenses can be used to count the number of Artemia larvae.
TEMPERATURE
Lastly, once hatchlings have grown, students may wish to think about their
developing brine shrimp in a fun way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bx_JimGwM4&NR=1 (sea monkey
dance)
Further sources of information
http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Brine.htm
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/brine-shrimp-science-project/a/1225/
http://www.captain.at/Artemia/
Many websites give information on caring for brine shrimp, tips and hints,
and some students may find examples like those below useful in researching
feeding, care and maintenance, hatching times, etc:
http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~davidr/discus/articles/Artemia.html
Download Brine Shrimp Ecology (M. Dockery and S. Tomkins) from
http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/educational/brine_shrimp/index.php .
TEMPERATURE
If schools want to invest in an aerated system to keep any larvae and brine
shrimp, a hatchery kit (12.99, including eggs and salt) can be ordered from
NTLabs, http://www.ntlabs.co.uk/product_details.php?product_id=72.
Schools may find that they need to replenish their supplies of Artemia eggs
and or food. Egg cysts can be purchased from a number of sources:
Artemia eggs from Aquatics online (4.05)
http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/brine-shrimp-eggs-andhatchers.asp#product622
egg cysts from Amazon (1.99)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/sera-Artemia-brine-shrimpeggs/dp/B001B5X0IC/ref=sr_1_2?
ie=UTF8&s=garden&qid=1281637096&sr=8-2
TEMPERATURE
10
TEMPERATURE
Sample results
Experiment Temperature and hatching
Temperature (C)
20
13
25
23
30*
35
12
40
11